Process for cracking oil



Jan. 13, 1931. VANDE R. 1,788,933

I PROCESS FOR CRACKING OIL Original Filed Nov. 21, 1923 Inven for:

Frank C. 'WzndeT Vizter,

Patented Jan. 13, 1931' FRANK o. VANDEYWA'IER, 0F nnwBuReH, innwtYonx, nssrenoaro Eastman LABORATORIES, me, or NEWBURGH, NEW 203x, aoosroanmon' on NEW YORK rnoozsss FOR onsoxrivs on;

Application filed November 21, 1923, Serial no. eza'ig Renewed r tra r iv, 30.

pressures with a minimum production of un- ,desirable products such as carbon and diolefines.

The process generally comprises subject ing a body of crude oil in an ordinary topping still to suitable temperatures to vapor- 'ize it, preferably in the neighborhood of 400 f to 450 F. After the natural gasoline and higher fractions pass off to suitable condensers, the vapors are then passed to superheating coils beneath the still which are 0 preferably long narrow pipes in which they are subjected, without increase of pressure,

to a temperature in the neighborhood of 1000 to 1300 F., depending upon the stage of the run, character of the chargingstock and character of the product desired. From the super-heating coils the vapors are passed to tubes of much largerodiameter, and subjected to substantially the same temperature in which the vapors, still at substan- 0 tia-lly atmospheric pressure, aresubjected to osition of carbon in appreciable quantities V or further the breaking down of the hydro- 7 carbon molecules. 7

A preferred apparatus .by which the process can be brought into practice is shown in the drawings of which,- 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus partly in section, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the coils and stabilizing tubes.

Referring now to the'embodiment iilustrated, I have shown a still or :tank 1 of any suitable construction which is placed over or in proximity to a fire-box or chamber 2 superheating which may be superheated by any of the common fuels now in" use, as obviously various circumstances will necessitate the use of various fuels. An aperture 3 is provided in the top of the oil tank through which the same mav be filledwiththe oil to be topped andemkea "The 31111 is rovided; with takeoff 4 within 'which is located a valve 5,"whi ch takeoff leads to a condenser 6 which may be,

ofan'y of the approved types and which is merely illustrated diagrammatically: j

Beneath thestill and in close proximity to theffire-box 2 I providega S lPerheating coil 7 prefera-bly of comparatively small diameter which is connected means of pipe 8 i to the takeoff 4 between the valve 5 and the still l. 'The superhea'tingcoils are connected as by 9 tothe large stabilizing tubes 10 arrangediat each side" of the superheating c oilsfand'al so' in proximity to the fire-box 2. It'will be seen that thesestahi} lizing, tubes 10 are of a much larger diameter than the superheating tubes and that therefore a certain amount of expansion takes place when the" superheated. vapors pass from the coil 7 tofthe pipef10. pipe 11 connects the ends of the stabiliaing' tubes 10 oppositethe' ends at which the superheated vapors" are admittechthereto, and the pipe ncommu'nicates with apipe "1 2 which is connected on the condenser side er'thevalvearo thetakeoff 4. a A valve 13 is'located in pipe 12 between the junctureof pipes 12 ah d' f'andithe pipe 11. a complete stabilization, but without the dep- The operation of the deviceis as follows:

Oil to'be cracked' i's filled into the still 1 through the-aperture the valve 13 closed, valve 51 opened, and the fire started in the fir-bOxQQ Heatis thus applied to the body of time to reinove the natural gasoline "expasses by Sway of pipe time the condenser 6 and is condensed as gasoline? From this 7 i v t 5 'ofoil within the still 1 for a sufficient length "is'ting m me oil frornithe same. This vapor point itemay be taken'to fthe'usual fractionars" ipliriit moments? tor-r i t is f the" common practice, and to: which no claim is made, s e V After the natural gasoline and the higher 5 is closed and the valve'13 opened. Upon continued heating of the liquid in the still c9 5 fractions have beenthus removed, the valve I at a temperature in the neighborhood of 450 7 F., orslightly greater, depending'upo'n the;

fractions it is desired'to drive off, the vapors pass through the pipe 8 into the super-heating coil 7 where'they are subjected to a temperature in the neighborhood of 1000 to 1300 F. ,The influence causes the complete vaporization and super-heating of the vapors. From the coil 7 they pass by means of the connection 9 into the stabilizing tubes 10 Where,because of the larger diameteriot' j 1 these latter tubes, the velocity of the vapors is considerably retarded, although the pressure is still substantially only a'few pounds above atmospheric pressure. In theselarger tubes a complete stabilization of the vapors is achieved Without deposition of carbon or further the breaking' up of the hydrocarbon molecules. The vaporsthen pass-through the pipes 11 and 12 into the takeofi pipe 4 whence they pass to the condenser 6.

It will thus be seen that under this process crude oil can be cracked efficiently without vthe deposition of carbon and the formation of diolefines, in anordinary-toppingstill beneath which the simple cracking and stabilizing tubesare disposed, thus requiring very little addition to the ordinary plant to apply this process. By carrying out the process in this manner and under very low pressures, theusual dangers encounteredin the operation of high pressure plants are avoided.

1. The process of treating liquid hydrocarbons comprising subjecting a body of oil to a vaporizing temperature, subjecting said moving vapors to a super-heatingtemperature in a restricted elongated space, whereby their velocity is increased, and then permitting said vapors to expand to reduce their velocity While subjected to substantially the same temperature, the entire operation taking place at substantially atmospheric pressure. 4 J

2. The process of treating liquid hydrocarbons comprising subjecting a body of oil to a vaporizing temperature in the neighborhood of 450 F., then subjecting said moving vapors to a super-heating temperature in the neighborhood of 1300 F. in a restricted elongated passage whereby their 've'locity is increased, and then permittingsaid vapors to expand to reduce their velocity while subject-ed to substantially the same temperature, the entire operation taking place atsubstaw tially atmospheric pressure. I

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

'- FRANK C. VANDE WATER. 

